Hi, I’m Joseph — Innovator, Designer & Engineer

Turning ideas into impactful solutions

View My Work

About Me

Hi, I’m Joseph — a USC student at the Jimmy Iovine & Andre Young Academy, where I explore how design, technology, and business intersect. I’m passionate about building products that solve real problems and deliver meaningful user experiences.

🌟 My Journey

I started with a love for creativity and design, but quickly realized I was just as fascinated by strategy—understanding user needs, shaping ideas into products, and guiding them through execution.

🚀 What Drives Me

I love connecting creativity with strategy—working across design, engineering, and business teams to bring ideas to life. My strengths are communication, leadership, and problem-solving, and I bring energy and adaptability to every project.

🎯 Looking Ahead

At USC, I’m continuing to sharpen my product management skills and explore new opportunities to build products that make an impact. My goal is to grow as a Product Manager—leading teams, shaping experiences, and creating solutions that balance user needs with business goals.

🌿 CurlWise — App Design (Low-Fidelity Prototype)

CurlWise is a low-fidelity prototype mobile app that provides personalized hair care recommendations for curly and textured hair. It uses a short hair test (porosity checks and hair scans) to recommend products and routines tailored to individual hair needs.

💡 Problem Statement

Curly and textured hair care is often misunderstood, underrepresented, and difficult to navigate. Many individuals, especially those from mixed-race or multicultural backgrounds, lack access to clear, inclusive guidance. They often rely on family advice, social media, or trial-and-error, which can lead to frustration, wasted money on unsuitable products, and long-term hair damage. Parents of mixed-race children face additional challenges when caring for unfamiliar hair textures. CurlWise aims to provide accessible, personalized recommendations through simple tests and scans to better serve this underserved community.

🔍 Prototype Preview

Open in Figma

Portfolio Projects

🧠 Thrift Hub — UX Research Case Study

Thrift Hub is an AI-powered clothing kiosk and online platform that makes secondhand fashion simple, trustworthy, and sustainable. This case study explores how users think about fashion categories, trust technology, and engage with circular fashion systems.

Role: UX Researcher Duration: 4 Weeks Methods: Interviews · Card Sorting · Analysis

💡 Problem Statement

While interest in sustainable fashion grows, resale apps like Depop or Poshmark can feel time-consuming, unreliable, and overly complex. Thrift Hub aims to make trading clothes as easy as recycling — powered by instant AI valuation and digital credits.

🎯 Research Objectives

  • Understand user trust and motivation toward AI-powered resale systems
  • Explore how users categorize clothing styles for platform navigation
  • Identify friction points in resale and trading experiences
  • Assess willingness to engage in a credit-based thrift ecosystem

🔍 Methodology

Conducted three user interviews and a card sorting activity in Figma. Participants grouped clothing into “Streetwear,” “Cozy,” “Formal,” and “Trending,” revealing how they naturally organize styles and how social media influences decisions.

💬 Key Insights

  • Social Media Shapes Trends: Users rely on TikTok and Instagram to decide what’s “in.”
  • Category Overlap: Items like tennis shoes and joggers fit multiple categories, suggesting flexible labels.
  • Trust Is Essential: Transparency about AI valuation builds confidence.
  • Effortless Trading: Users prefer quick trade-ins over manual resale listings.

🧭 Design Recommendations

  • Allow multi-category tagging (e.g., Streetwear + Cozy)
  • Add Sportswear or similar flexible subcategories
  • Include AI transparency (breakdown of condition, brand, and resale value)
  • Provide visual onboarding for first-time users

🔮 Reflection

The study revealed how personal identity, social influence, and usability intersect in sustainable fashion. By understanding user behavior, I designed clearer navigation, transparent valuation features, and simplified trade-in flows for the next prototype iteration.

📄 Full Research Report

Open in Figma

Skills

UX Design UI Design Wireframing & Prototyping Adobe Creative Suite Figma HTML & CSS JavaScript Collaboration & Teamwork Leadership

Contact

If you'd like to get in touch, here are the best ways to reach me: